Discover the Next Generation of Christian Storytellers…
Featuring Lydia Smith
Lydia Smith completed her first novel at age four: a touching tale about a snake (named Snake) and a worm (named Worm). But when her mom introduced her to C.S Lewis, Lydia said goodbye to Snake and Worm and set off to find more stories about home and belonging. Now, she writes historical fiction that reminds ordinary people they are loved by an extraordinary God.
When her characters aren’t keeping her up past bedtime, you can find Lydia starting yet another quilt, adding even more sticky notes to her Bible, or jamming to Ben Fuller with her eight siblings.
Find Her on the Web
About Her Short Story
The One That Got Away
For someone with no end of money, tax-collector Zacchaeus bar Simeon doesn’t have much. No friends, no family, and no God. They’ve all cut him off. He’s completely alone. Not that he’ll ever admit he cares.
But when a miracle-worker arrives in his hometown of Jericho, Zacchaeus can’t help investigating. This supposed prophet stops for blind beggars, so maybe he would spare a glance for an outcast tax-collector, too.
Unfortunately, Zacchaeus is a wee little man in a big crowd, easily lost and easily ignored, and if he can’t reach this Jesus of Nazareth, he’ll walk away unseen and forgotten yet again.
Her Accomplishments
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Drafted five novels, three of which were completed in thirty days or less.
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Received two manuscript assessments within the Author Conservatory and also hired her own editor for another.
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Attended the 2024 Write to Publish conference and the 2025 Author Conservatory conference.
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Received a book proposal request from an agent on one of her projects.
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Appeared on The Homeschool Highschool Podcast for her Etsy business, Pieces of Forever, a business where she creates memory pillows for people who have lost loved ones.
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Hired a Biblical history professor to proofread a story for historical accuracy.
Meet the 10 other authors in the anthology!
colin
horst
naomi
johns
sophia
jones
hannah
bellinghausen
A'riana
Sophia
kenzie
may
hannahgrace
bowen
allie
hostetler
elisabeth
A. Douglas
micaiah
keough
Support the next generation of writers
100% of the proceeds from this anthology go toward helping up-and-coming writers achieve their goals, such as attending writing conferences where they can pitch their work to agents and publishers.
About the Author Conservatory
Conservatory, noun: “A school specializing in one of the fine arts.”
The Author Conservatory is an online apprenticeship-modeled program that teaches students the writing & business skills they need to get published and support themselves financially.
